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The General Packet Radio System (GPRS) is a new service that provides actual packet

radio access for mobile Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Time-

Division Multiple Access (TDMA) users. The main benefits of GPRS are that it reservesradio resources only when there is data to send and it reduces reliance on traditional

circuit-switched network elements. The increased functionality of GPRS will decrease

the incremental cost to provide data services, an occurrence that will, in turn, increase thepenetration of data services among consumer and business users. In addition, GPRS will

allow improved quality of data services as measured in terms of reliability, response time,

and features supported.

Migration From GSM Network To GPRS Explanation

The unique applications that will be developed with GPRS will appeal to a broad base ofmobile subscribers and allow operators to differentiate their services. These new services

will increase capacity requirements on the radio and base-station subsystem resources.

One method GPRS uses to alleviate the capacity impacts is sharing the same radio

resource among all mobile stations in a cell, providing effective use of the scarceresources. In addition, new core network elements will be deployed to support the high

burst ness of data services more efficiently.

The General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a new non voice value added service that

allows information to be sent and received across a mobile telephone network. It

supplements today's Circuit Switched Data and Short Message Service. GPRS is NOTrelated to GPS (the Global Positioning System), a similar acronym that is often used in

mobile contexts.

In addition to providing new services for today's mobile user, GPRS is important as a

migration step toward third-generation (3G) networks. GPRS will allow networkoperators to implement a IP-based core architecture for data applications, which willcontinue to be used and expanded upon for 3G services for integrated voice and data

applications. In addition, GPRS will prove a testing

and development area for new services and applications, which will also be used in the

development of 3G services.

In addition to the GPRS timeline, it is necessary to investigate the 3G deployment

timeline. Because many GPRS operators are either planning to deploy or areinvestigating 3G, GPRS can be seen as a migration step toward 3G. Several proof-of-

concept type trials are currently under way, and these trials will lead to more technical-

and application-oriented trials in early 2001. As with GPRS, terminal and infrastructureavailability are driving factors. In addition, completion of the licensing process is a

necessary step for commercial deployment.

Global System For Mobile Communication (GSM)

Global system for mobile(GSM) is a second generation cellular system standard that was

developed to solve the fragmentation problems of the first cellular systems in Europe's is

the world's first cellular system to specify the digital modulation and network level

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architecture and services. Before GSM, European countries used different cellular

standards throughout the continent, and it was not possible for customer to use a single

subscriber unit throughout Europe. GSM's success has exceeded the expectations ofvirtually everyone, and it is now the world's most popular standard for new cellular radio

and personal communication equipment throughout the world.